INSTRUCTIONS FOR PIKA SURVEYS IN CALIFORNIA
vs 102710
Contact: Connie Millar, USDA Forest Service, PSW Research Station, Albany, CA; Ph: 510-559-6435, Email: cmillar@fs.fed.us
Survey Methods: Search for pika and pika sign in preferred habitat: talus fields (boulder slopes) with open rock matrix; rock sizes
ranging from 25-90cm; minimal fine sediments or soil within the talus; sloping terrain from shallow to steep; in California above
1700m, more commonly above 2800m especially at southern latitudes. No obvious preference for aspect or substrate type.
Preferred talus locations are adjacent to patches of herbaceous vegetation (shrub and forbs of diverse species), less commonly
adjacent to conifer forests or shrublands, or locations of expansive talus fields without surrounding or interspersed vegetation. Time
search for 30 minutes. Note if 1) pika seen or heard, 2) pika indirect sign found, or 3) no sign of pika. Distinctive pika calls are raspy
chirps (1-3 repetitions per set): “chee chee chee”, but vary geographically.
For the talus survey, start near the lower edge of talus (~20m of the border) and search for indirect pika sign, staying attentive to
pika sightings and vocalizations. Look into rock openings below the surface, especially those that have protective overhangs and
access into deeper rock matrices (i.e., not where soil is compacted). A flashlight helps to see into the openings. Pika sentry or perch
rocks are ~20cm diameter, often conical, and often situated on the center floor of the opening, allowing a view for perched pika
toward the talus below. Pika sit on these perches and pellets and urine stains accumulate on and below them. Urine stains
accumulate to about 10cm dia; much larger & “messier” urine stains are made by woodrats and can be confused for pika sign.
Fresh pika urine stains are white-yellowish and smeary; old urine is chalky white with flaking edges and looks like typewriter “whiteout”. Pika fecal pellets are rabbit-like, completely round (like BB gunshot), ~2-3 mm diameter, dark green-brown when fresh,
becoming black then white as they age; with more aging pellets decompose and become soil-like. Very recent pellets are often
‘glued’ into urine on sentry rocks. Collect intact pellets if possible (plastic or paper bag) and note condition of urine stains. Pika (as
all rabbit relatives) produce a second type of feces known as caecotrophs – these are rarely seen but are tar-like, black, smeary,
and flat, ~1cm diameter.
Search also for pika haypiles, which are concentrated accumulations of leafy vegetation in stacks up to 1.5m dia, usually but not
always near the base of the talus field. They can include diverse species (not just grasses or “hay”). Because pika prefer green
vegetation, their haypiles comprise mostly leaves and green branches, not piles of woody stems, the latter being woodrat sign.
Branches are up to 30cm long. Haypiles are usually separated in the talus by >25m. Search also for feeding dens, which are
characterized by tightly stuffed vegetation around the basal margin of large boulders (1.5m – 3m diameters) perched amidst finer
talus matrix. Abundant pellet piles are usually intermixed with the stacks of vegetation.
Location Information. Use a GPS unit to record
latitude, longitude, and elevation. Identify the sites by a
name related to the general region (canyon, mountain
peak), and number sites accordingly. Do not record
sites <75M distant from one another (these are likely
the same animal). Describe, as possible, the geomorphic landform, substrate, slope aspect, and any
additional notes or comments that seem useful. If
possible, photograph: 1) pika perch/den microsite, 2)
talus site, & 3) environmental context.
Photos: 1) Typical pika pose on perch; 2) Fresh urine
stain on pika perch with fresh pellets adhering; 3) Fresh
pellet pile; 4) Large haypile under typical feeding-den
boulder; 5) Excellent pika habitat – boulder-stream
talus adjacent to wetland. Photo credits #1: A.
Tshcherbina; #2-5: C. Millar
References:
Millar, C.I. and R.D. Westfall. 2010. Distribution and
climatic relationships of the American Pika (Ochotona
princeps) in the Sierra Nevada and western Great
Basin, U.S.A.; Periglacial landforms as refugia in
warming climates. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine
Research 42:76-88.
Millar, C.I. and R.D. Westfall. 2008. Rock glaciers and periglacial rock-ice features in the Sierra Nevada; Classification, distribution, and
climate relationships. Quaternary International 188:90-104.
AMERICAN PIKA (Ochotona princeps) SURVEY FORM (sample)
OBSERVER: Connie Millar
Address: 800 Buchanan St
Albany, CA 94710
Affiliation: US Forest Service
Phone: xxx-xxx-xxxx
Email Address: xxx@fs.fed.us
OBSERVATION DATE: July 4, 2009
TIME: 1330 hr
SITE SURVEYED FOR 30 minutes
SITE NAME: Lundy Cyn
SITE #: LC-1
LOCAL REGION: Moat Lake cirque
COUNTY: Mono
MTN RANGE: Sierra Nevada
STATE: CA
LAT °N: 38° 3.210
ASPECT: 211° (SW)
LONG °W: 119° 16.325
ELEV: 3159 m__ ft__
Estimated by: GPS X Map__ eMap (Topo, Google Earth)__
Other:
LANDFORM: Circle all that are applicable
talus
rock glacier
anthropogenic
rock crevice
boulder stream
patterned ground
inselberg
eroded bedrock
rockfall
moraine
lava flow/lava cave
tephra
cliff face
Other and/or more landform detail:
Large boulder-stream talus field covers extensive slope; adjacent to wetland with abundant vegetation
SUBSTRATE:
Circle if:
granitic
metamorphic
sedimentary
igneous
Additional substrate detail:
PIKA Circle if:
SEEN
HEARD
PIKA SIGN (below)
PELLETS: fresh X old__ few__ abundant_X
Caecal feces observed ___ Y or N X
URINE SIGN: fresh (silver-white & smeary) X
NO PIKA SIGN (after 30 min search)
COLLECTED Yes X
No___
old (chalk white & flakey) __
HAYPILE: present X if yes, plant material green__ or brown X
Haypile absent___
Surrounding vegetation (plant species or plant community): Distance to live vegetation 50m/ft
Salix lakeside community; Leptodactylon pungens, Artemesia spp, Ericameria suffruticosa, Symphoricarpus
spp.
Sign of other species?
Marmot
SITE PHOTOGRAPHED: Y X
Sm Rodent
N__
ADDITIONAL NOTES -- use back as needed
None
Other:
AMERICAN PIKA (Ochotona princeps) CALIFORNIA SURVEY FORM (vs 102710)
OBSERVER:
Address:
Affiliation:
Phone:
Email Address:
OBSERVATION DATE:
TIME: ___ hr
SITE SURVEYED FOR __ minutes
SITE NAME:
SITE ID #:
COUNTY:
MTN RANGE:
LOCAL REGION:
STATE:
LATITUDE °N:
LONGITUDE °W:
ELEV: ____ m or ft
Estimated by: GPS__ Map__
ASPECT:
Other (eMap, Topo, Google Earth) __
LANDFORM: Circle all that are applicable:
talus
rock glacier
anthropogenic rockfall,
cliff face
boulder stream
patterned ground
inselberg
eroded bedrock
moraine
lava flow/lava cave
tephra
rock crevice
sedimentary
igneous
other
HEARD
PIKA SIGN (below)
NO PIKA SIGN (30 min search)
abundant
none
Other and/or more landform detail:
SUBSTRATE:
Circle if:
granitic
metamorphic
More substrate detail:
PIKA: Circle if
PELLETS:
SEEN
fresh
old
few
Caecal feces observed Y___ or N
present __,
old (chalk white & flakey) ___
if yes, plant material: green ___ brown ___
SURROUNDING VEGETATION (plant species or plant community):
Distance to live vegetation ______m or ft
Sign of other species? Marmot
Sm Rodent
SITE PHOTOGRAPHED: Y__ N__
ADDITIONAL NOTES: Use back side
No___
___
URINE SIGN fresh (white-yellow & smeary) ___
HAYPILE
COLLECTED Yes___
None
Other:
Haypile absent ___